Holidays and Festivals of Non-Muslims
Shaikhul Islam Ahmed ibn Abdul-Haleem Ibn Taymiyah (d. 728 H)
(رحمه اللّه)
Shaikh Ibn Taymiyah was asked about the Muslims who cook Christian foods on Nayrooz (the Persian new year celebration), partake in the remaining seasonal events such as Jesus’ baptism, his birthday (i.e. Christmas), Easter, Holy Saturday, etc. and sell products which they use to establish their celebrations. Is it permissible for the Muslims to do any of this or not?
All praise is for Allah. It is not permissible for the Muslims to imitate the non-Muslims in any manner specific to their celebrations; not food, clothing, ritual bathing, lighting candles (stringing lights), or taking a day off of regular habits, work, worship etc. Likewise it is not permissible to hold a banquet, exchange gifts, or sell them products which they use for these celebrations. The Muslims are also not to allow their children to take part in their games or decorate. In general, they should not practice any action which is specific to the non-Muslim in their holidays treating these days like any other normal day of the year and if they do fall into some of these acts intentionally some of the scholars, from both the past and present, hold this to be hated (meaning impermissible). As for the previously mentioned activities, there is no disagreement between the scholars regarding their ruling. In fact some of the people of knowledge hold the opinion that whoever takes part in such acts has fallen into (an act of) disbelief due to them glorifying the ceremonies of disbelief. Some of the scholars have said that whoever slaughters a sheep in the non-Muslim celebrations is like the one who slaughters a swine.
Abdullah ibn Amar Al-Aas said, “whoever imitates the non-Arab countries (i.e. non-Muslims at that time) and takes part in their celebrations and festivals imitating them until they die will be raised with them on the day or resurrection”. In Sunan Abi Dawood, Thabit ibn ad-Dahhak said, “In the time of the Prophet (salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) a man took a vow to slaughter a camel at Buwanah (a known location at the time). He came to the Prophet (salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) and said: I have taken a vow to sacrifice a camel at Buwanah. The Prophet (salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) asked, “Did the place contain any idol worshipped in pre-Islamic times?” He said, “No.” He (salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) then asked, “Was any pre-Islamic festival observed there?” He replied, “No”, so the Prophet (salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said, “Fulfill your vow, for a vow to do an act of disobedience to Allah must not be fulfilled nor a vow taken for that which the human being has no control over.” So the prophet (salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) did not allow this man to fulfill his vow, with the fact the fulfilling a vow is obligatory, until he (the man) informed him (the prophet) that there was no pre-Islamic festival observed there in which the prophet (salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said, ” for a vow to do an act of disobedience to Allah must not be fulfilled”. So if offering a ritual sacrifice in a place where there was a non-Muslim festival or celebration observed is sinful, then what about taking part in that very same festival?! In fact Umar ibn al-Khattab, the companions (may Allah be pleased with them all), and the remaining Muslim leaders made it a condition upon the non-Muslims that they were not to publicly display their celebrations in the Muslim lands but could partake in them privately in their homes. So what about the Muslims who publicly observe such celebrations themselves?! Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) went so far as to say, “do not learn their lingo nor enter the churches with the non-Muslims on their holidays because (Allah’s) anger descends upon them”. So if the one entering to take a peek or something like that is prohibited because (Allah’s) anger descends upon them then what about the one who does what Allah is angry with from their religious rituals?! More than one of the scholars of the past has said that the verse,
وَالَّذِينَ لَا يَشْهَدُونَ الزُّورَ
“And those who do not witness falsehood…” (Al-Furqan 25:72) refers to the non-Muslim’s celebrations (and holidays). So if this verse is referring to the one who is a witness of such events then what about the one who takes part in those activities which are characteristic of their holidays?!
It has been authentically reported in al-Musnad and as-Sunan that the prophet (salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said, “whoever imitates a people is from them” and in another wording, “whoever intimates others besides us (Muslims) is not from us”. If this hadeeth and it’s consequences are referring to imitating the non-Muslims even in that which could be considered habit, custom, and manners, then what about imitating them in that which is greater in degree from that which the majority of the scholars have deemed to be hated, either impermissible or extremely disliked, such as eating what they have slaughtered for their holidays and festivals, sacrificed for other than Allah, and what has been slaughtered on (an-Nusub) stone alters?! Similarly the scholars have deemed it impermissible for the Muslims to help the non-Muslims with their holidays (, festivals, and celebrations) by exchanging gifts and selling them their needed goods, saying, “it is not permissible for the Muslims to sell anything to the Christians which benefits their holidays be it meat, blood, clothes, etc. nor are they to loan them transportation or aid them with anything from their religion, because that is a form of glorifying and supporting their disbelief. It is also a must that the rulers prohibit the Muslims from doing so.” This is because Allah the Most High said,
وَتَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْبِرِّ وَالتَّقْوَى وَلَا تَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْإِثْمِ وَالْعُدْوَانِ
“Help you one another in virtue, righteousness and piety; but do not help one another in sin and transgression. And fear Allah. Verily, Allah is Severe in punishment.” (Al-Ma’idah 5:2)
It is also impermissible for the Muslims to assist the non-Muslims in drinking alcohol by making it for them, so what about that which is from the rituals of disbelief?! If it is not permissible to help and aid them, then what about the one who actually takes part in such activities and behavior?! Allah knows best.
Translated by John ‘Eesa’ Starling
Found in: Al-Qawlul Mufeed, December 2009
For more on this topic, listen or download: Muslims Participating in Christmas by Shaikh Ibn Baz (FREE MP3!)
